My CT had planned to start this block period off with group work. Since it was 7:30am in the morning, the students were a little sleepy and needed something to wake them up. A lot of students are friends in the class and tend to get chatty when grouped with close friends. That being said, my CT placed the students in groups for efficiency. I proceeded to pass out one big dry-erase board to each group. The groups were then handed a textbook and told to turn to a certain page with a timeline on it. This was a timeline of important people in the history of "cells." Each group was given a different person form history to report on to the class.
My CT has a bit of a lax style when it comes to discipline or directions... I noticed that he doesn't circulate around the classroom often, however maybe he doesn't feel the need to because I am circulating constantly. My CT however, will come out from behind his desk and sit on students desks or the lab tables in the back and sides of the room. I imagine he does this to maintain an efficient classroom.
There is no policy against using your phones in class at Narragansett high-school. I do not agree with this policy. I believe students can become easily distracted by their devices and tend to text, play games, or go on social media when they aren't monitored properly. I see this in my practicum at the high-school and quite honestly, it frustrated the hell out of me. When I see students using their phones inappropriately, I simply walk towards them and stand next to there desk. Most students recognize me right away and put there phones down, however some students are so lost in there devices they cannot recognize their surroundings and therefore are not retaining any information. One thing I realized is that if my CT asks students to put their phones down, they all do because they have respect for him, which I admire. A classroom cannot run smoothly without mutual respect and ground rules.
With that being said, student engagement is of the upmost importance to me. Student engagement fosters comprehension of all topics. The more engaged students are, the more likely they are able to comprehend complex material. Therefore, I plan to create lessons which foster student engagement and spark their interest. I believe class culture is also important in getting students engaged initially. Without a clear set of rules, expectations, and procedures built around student safety and success; a classroom has poor management. I also believe being passionate about your content area is important in maintaining student engagement. If you aren't excited about science, than your students will not be either. Lastly, I plan to be a circulating teacher who uses proximity as a managerial strategy to maintain student engagement. While circulating, I can keep a close on student achievement and reduce the risk of undesirable behavior. Circulating is also a useful technique when it comes to giving students frequent and explicit feedback.
My CT has a bit of a lax style when it comes to discipline or directions... I noticed that he doesn't circulate around the classroom often, however maybe he doesn't feel the need to because I am circulating constantly. My CT however, will come out from behind his desk and sit on students desks or the lab tables in the back and sides of the room. I imagine he does this to maintain an efficient classroom.
There is no policy against using your phones in class at Narragansett high-school. I do not agree with this policy. I believe students can become easily distracted by their devices and tend to text, play games, or go on social media when they aren't monitored properly. I see this in my practicum at the high-school and quite honestly, it frustrated the hell out of me. When I see students using their phones inappropriately, I simply walk towards them and stand next to there desk. Most students recognize me right away and put there phones down, however some students are so lost in there devices they cannot recognize their surroundings and therefore are not retaining any information. One thing I realized is that if my CT asks students to put their phones down, they all do because they have respect for him, which I admire. A classroom cannot run smoothly without mutual respect and ground rules.
With that being said, student engagement is of the upmost importance to me. Student engagement fosters comprehension of all topics. The more engaged students are, the more likely they are able to comprehend complex material. Therefore, I plan to create lessons which foster student engagement and spark their interest. I believe class culture is also important in getting students engaged initially. Without a clear set of rules, expectations, and procedures built around student safety and success; a classroom has poor management. I also believe being passionate about your content area is important in maintaining student engagement. If you aren't excited about science, than your students will not be either. Lastly, I plan to be a circulating teacher who uses proximity as a managerial strategy to maintain student engagement. While circulating, I can keep a close on student achievement and reduce the risk of undesirable behavior. Circulating is also a useful technique when it comes to giving students frequent and explicit feedback.